Box shifting apparatus



June 3, 1958 E. DAVIS BOX SHIFTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 8, 1954 INVENTOR.

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June 3, 1958 E. DAVIS BOX SHIFTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1954 g M P 1%.21. EAV/S,

INVENTOR.

14 TTOENE'Y- 30X SEMTING APPARATUS Earl Davis, Whittier, Caiifi, assiguor to Purex Corporation, Ltd, South Gate, Califi, a corporation of California Application March 8, 1954, Serial No. 414,705

14 Claims. (CI. 53-52) This invention relates to apparatus for handling boxes, as for instance paper carton type boxes, and is particularly concerned with apparatus for shifting or advancing boxes between a pair of locations in an assembly or packing line.

A major object of the invention is to provide improved box shift ng apparatus especially adapted for an intermittent type of operation, such as to successively shift or advance a series of boxes between a pair of loca tions after desired operation has been performed in connection with the boxes at a first of those locations. Particularly contemplated is apparatus in which a series of opened boxes are to be successively placed over and about successive groups of articles, such as bottles, to be packed in the boxes, and in which the shifting mechanism becomes effective after the positioning of each box to shift it and the contained articles toward a box closing and sealing location. As will appear, the actuation of the shifting mechanism may in this case be made .automatic, so that the movement of the box into position about the articles acts to automatically energize the shifter for producing the desired box advancement.

structurally, the apparatus includes a flexible endless member, such as an endless belt, which is adapted to engage and bear against a side of the box, and by its endless movement acts to cause advancement of the box. in order to permit an intermittent operation of the mechanism, and to enable positioning of a box about articles without interference by the shifting mechanism, the bel or other endless means has a portion mounted for bodily movement into and out of driving engagement with the box. Preferably, the endless means engages two opposite sides of the box, to tightly embrace and assure efiective driving engagement with the box. At each of these two opposite sides of the box, the endless means may have a portion mounted for bodily movement toward and away from the box. Preferably, two entirely separate belts or other endless members are provided at the two box sides. The laterally movable portions of the belt or belts may be mounted for their lateral movement by one or more bodily movable pulleys, which may be carried by swinging carrier elements adapted to swing toward and away from the box.

in order to automatically swing the endless drive means into engagement with a box as it is moved into position, i prefer to provide, adjacent the box receiving and supporting surface, a control element which is engageable and depressible by a box as it is lowered onto that surface. Depression of this control element acts to automatically energize a power unit for actuating the endless drive means against the box. At the same time, a box engaged control element of this type, preferably the same one, acts to release a stop member which functions to retain the bottles or other articles against ad- ?nite States Pater vancement beyond a predetermined point until a box has been moved into position about them.

The endless means may be retracted by automatic deflection and actuation of a second control element as an advancing box reaches a particular location along its path of movement. For this purpose, the endless member or members may have a forward portion supported and positioned by a laterally deflectible pulley, whose deflection by a passing box acts to energize a power unit for effecting the desired retraction.

The above and other features and objects of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a box handling apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. '2 is a side view of the Fig. l apparatus;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one of the side box shifting units of the device, and showing schematically its automatic control apparatus.

Referring first to Fig. 1, I have shown at it) a conveyor along which a double row series of bottles 11 are advanced to the left as seen in Fig. 1. Bottles 11 advance initially to a point of engagement with a transverse stop member 2, which temporarily restrains their advancing movement while an operator places an opened and inverted box 13 over and about a forward group of the bottles. Such positioning of the box 13 over the forward group of bottles acts to automatically retract stop 12 to a position permitting leftward advancement of the box and contained bottles, and at the same time causes a pair of box shifting units 14 to move into engagement with opposite sides of the box and positively shift it along a discharge conveyor 15.

The feed and discharge conveyors ill and 15 may be of any desired construction, the feed conveyor being typically illustrated as of the endless belt type, while the discharge conveyor is typically shown as comprising a number of rollers 16 along which the bottles and boxes may move freely under the influence of shifting units 14. Preferably, conveyor 10 is a live conveyor, to effectively deliver the bottles to their desired position of engagement with stop 12. The roller type discharge conveyor 15, however, need not be power driven, since shifting units 14 provide the power for moving the boxes and bottles along this conveyor.

The bottle stop 12 may comprise an elongated rigid bar extending transversely across the bottle path, and movable vertically between an upper active position and a lower position retracted downwardly out of the bottle path. The stop is mounted for such vertical movement by a pair of arms 17 which extend forwardly from opposite sides of the stop and are pivoted at their forward ends 13 to the frame of conveyor 15. One of these arms continues rearwardly beyond its point of connection to transverse stop bar 12, to form an elongated lever terminating in a horizontally turned rear end portion 19 which is engageable and depressible by the rear edge portion of a box 13 as an operator moves it into position about a group of the bottles 11. As will be understood, such depression of the end 19 of the rearwardly extended arm 17 acts to retract stop 12 downwardly out of engagement with the forwardmost pair of bottles 11, to permit their advancement to the left as seen in Fig. 1. Directly beneath the box-engaged end 19 of the stop mounting arm or lever is positioned an electric switch 20, which is engaged and actuated by the, end 19 of arm 17 as it is depressed. As will appear later, switch 20 acts to cause shifter units 14 to laterally embrace box 13 and advance it with the contained bottles over and beyond stop 12. After the box and contained bottles have moved past stop 12, the stop is returned upwardly by a pair of springs 21 interposed between the stop and a flange 22 on the frame of conveyor 15. it then acts to retain the bottles directly behind box 13 from advancement beyond the stop location, until a second box has been moved into position about a second for-' ward group of the bottles.

The two box shifting units 14 are positioned at opposite sides of'the box 13, and comprise a pair of upstanding frames 23, on each of which is mounted an endless horizontally extending and moving box engaging drive belt 24. The belts 24 are formedof a suitable friction material, such as rubber, so that their'inner extents 24a which extend and move horizontally in the direction of box advancement may act to frictionally grip the opposite sides of the box, and thus positively shift it to the left as seen in Fig. 1. a

Each of the belts 24 is mounted for endless longitudinal movement by a number of pulleys mounted for rotation about parallel vertical axes. These pulleys may include a drive pulley 25, and six idler pulleys 26', 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31. The drive pulleys of the two shifter units are mounted to the frames 23 for rotation about fixed vertical axes, and are continuously rotatably driven by electric motors 32 through shafts 33 and reduction gear units 34. i

The two forwardmost idler pulleys 26, anclthe pulleys 31 are also mounted to the frame for rotation about fixed parallel vertical axes. The relative positioning of the two forwardmost idler pulleys 26' is such as to maintain the spacing of the two belts 24 at the location of those forward pulleys approximately the same as the width of the boxes 13 being handled, so that the boxesmay pass through the space between these pulleys. The pulleys 27 are positioned in advance of the forwardmost pulleys 26, and are mounted for lateral deflection outwardly from their positions shown in Figs. l and 4. In their Fig. 1 position, these pulleys 27 urge the engaged portions of belts 24 inwardly to positions in which the space formed between those portions of the belts is somewhat narrower than the boxes 13. There is thus formed at the location of pulleys 27 a somewhat restricted throat, through which boxes 13 must force their way by laterally deflecting pulleys 27 and the engaged portions of the belts.

Pulleys 27 are mounted for their defined lateral defiection by a pair of carrier members 35, which rotatably carry the pulleys at 36, and are pivotally attached to their respective frames 23 at 37. Carriers 35 are yieldingly urged by springs 38 in rotary directions such as to yieldingly urge the pulleys toward one another for tightly.

' gripping a box.

'a' vertical pivot pin 40 for swinging'about the verticalaxis of that pin. The pulleys 28, 29 and 39 are rotatably carried between arms 39a and 39b of the carrier, with their rotary axes extending vertically and preferably lymg in a common plane. 30 maybe movably mounted Within slots 41 of carrier 39, and yieldingly urged .by springs 42 in a direction to take-up any slack in the belts. The construction and positioning of pulleys 28, 29 and 30 is desirably such The shafts of the end pulleys positions of Fig. 4, the portions of the belts which they engage are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to opposite ends of the cylinder through lines 49 and 50. The delivery of pressure fluid to the two cylinders 44 is controlled by a valve 51, which is controlled by a pair of electric solenoids 52and'53 under the influence of the previously mentioned box-actuated switch 20 and a second switch 54. This second micro switch 54 is posi-' tioned for engagement and actuation by one of the carriers 35 upon pivotal movement thereof resulting from lateral deflection of the carried pulley 27 as box 13 reaches the location of that pulley.

In the operation of the apparatus illustrated in the drawings, bottles 11 are continuously urged along feed conveyor 10 toward the left as seen in Fig. 1, and into engagement with transverse stop '12. As an operator places a box 13 over a forward group of the bottles 11,

the box engages and depresses the rear portion 19 of the stop control lever, to retract the stop downwardly, and permit advancement of the box and contained bottles.

Positioning of the box-also actuates switch 20 to close an energizing circuit to solenoid 53, which moves the inner control element 55 of valve 51 downwardly, as seen in Fig. 4, to its broken line position. In this condition, the valve admits actuating pressure fluid, typically com,- pressed air,'from line 56 to line 49 and the lower end of cylinder 44 (as seen in Fig. 4). The opposite end of the cylinder'is permitted to discharge through lines 50 and 57. As a result, the two pistons 46 of the shifter units swing the rear portions of the belts 24 inwardly into driving engagement with the positioned box 13. The

belts then become effective to positively advance the box 13 and its contained bottles to theleft as seen in Fig. 3 and ,onto discharge conveyor 15. As the boxreaches the location of rollers 27, it laterally deflects these rollers,

with resultant actuation of the second control switch 54, which closes an energizing circuit to solenoid 52. This solenoid then moves inner element 55 of valve 51 upwardly to its full line position (as seen in Fig. 4), to admit air to the cylinders through their lines 50, and discharge from the cylinders through their lines 49 and valve line 58. With the valve in this condition, the two pistons 46 are caused to actuate the rear portions of belts 24 outwardly to their retracted full line'po'sitions, permitting movement of another box into position over the next group of bottles. It is noted that even after the rear portionsof belts 24 are retracted away from a box, the forward portions of the belts positioned by pulleys 26 and 27 continue to engage and advance the box until its rear edge reaches the location of the forwardmost pulleys 26.

I claim: p 1. Box handling apparatus comprising means forming a surface for supporting a box at a predetermined location, endless flexible means mounted for endless movement adjacent said box location and operable to engage the box and advance it along said surface, means driving.

the box, and a second control unit for actuating said last.

mentioned means to retract said endless means and positioned for operation by the box as it is. advanced by said that when these pulleys are in their broken line active endless means.

2. Box handling apparatus comprising means forming a surface for supporting a box at a predetermined location, endless flexible means mounted for endless movement and positioned at opposite sides of said box location and operable to engage opposite sides of the box and advance it along said surface, means driving said endless means, means mounting a portion of said endless means at each of said sides of the box for movement into and out of engagement with the box, shifting means operable to move said portions of the endless means into .and out of engagement with the box, a control unit for actuating said shifting means to move said portions of the endless means against the box, a pulley engaging a portion of said endless means at a point beyond said location in the direction of box advancement and mounted for lateral deflection by a box as it reaches said point, and a second control unit for actuating said shifting means to retract said portions of the endless means and actuable by said deflection of said pulley.

3. Box handling apparatus comprising means forming a surface on which a series of units to be boxed are advanced along a predetermined path, a retractable stop element for releasably retaining said units against movement beyond a predetermined location on said surface so that a box may be placed in position about a group of said units, a pair of endless flexible members mounted for endless movement at opposite sides of said path and operable to engage opposite sides of a box positioned about said group of units and advance it along said surface upon retraction of said stop element, means driving said endless members, means mounting portions of said endless members for movement into and out of engagement with said opposite sides of the box, said last mentioned means comprising pulleys mounting said portions of the endless members and movable toward and away from the box, and shifting means operable to laterally actuate said pulleys in a direction advancing the endless members laterally into engagement with the box from a retracted position out of engagement with and at the side of the box.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 3, including control means operable to energize said pulley actuating means and to retract said stop element and positioned for actuation by a box as it is moved into position about said group of units.

5. Box handling apparatus comprising means forming a surface onto which a series of units to be boxed are advanced along a predetermined path, a retractable stop element for releasably retaining said units against movement beyond a predetermined location on said surface so that a box may be placed in position about a group of said units, a pair of endless flexible members mounted for endless movement at opposite sides of said path and operable to engage opposite sides of a box positioned about said group of units and advance it along said surface upon retraction of said stop element, means driving said endless members, means mounting portions of said endless members for movement into and out of engagement with said opposite sides of the box, said last mentioned means including two pairs of pulleys spaced along opposite sides of the box location and mounting portions of the endless members, and a pair of carriers rotatably carrying said pairs of pulleys respectively and pivotally mounted for swinging movement toward and away from the box, power operated means for actuating said carriers toward and away from the box, a control unit for energizing said power operated means to move the carrier toward said box to thereby actuate the endless members into engagement with the box, said control unit being positioned for actuation by a box as it is moved into position about said group of units, said apparatus including control means operable by a box as it is moved into position about said units to retract said stop element, additional pulleys mounting portions of said members beyond said first mentioned pulleys in the direc- '6 tion of box advancement and mounted for lateral deflec tion as a box reaches their location, and additional control means for actuating said power operated means to swing said carriers away from the box and actuable by said deflection of one of said additional pulleys.

6. Box handling apparatus comprising a support along which a series of units to be boxed are advanced along a predetermined path, a retractable stop element for releasably retaining said units against movement beyond a predetermined location on said support so that a box may be placed in position about a group of said units, endless flexible means mounted for endless movement adjacent said location and operable to engage a box about said group of units and advance the box and units along said support, means driving said endless means, and means operable to shift a portion of said endless means laterally into engagement with a box at said location and from a laterally retracted position in which said portion does not engage the box, to thereby effect said advancement.

7. Box handling apparatus as recited in claim 6, including means for retracting said stop in response to the movement of a box into position about said group of units at said location.

8. Box handling apparatus as recited in claim 6, including means for actuating said last mentioned means to move said portion of the endless means into engagement with a box at said location in response to the movement of said box into position about said group of units at said location.

9. Box handling apparatus as recited in claim 6, including means responsive to the movement of a box into position about said group of units to retract said stop and to actuate said shifting means to move said portion of the endless means from said retracted position laterally into engagement with the box.

10. Box handling apparatus as recited in claim 9, in which said endless means have a second portion beyond said location laterally deflectible by an advancing box, said apparatus including means responsive to deflection of said second portion of the endless means by the box to actuate said shifting means to retract said first mentioned portion of the endless means laterally away from its box advancing position.

11. Box handling apparatus comprising a support for supporting at a predetermined location a plurality of units to be boxed and about which a box may be placed, endless fiexible means mounted for endless movement adjacent said location and operable to engage the box and advance it along said support, means driving said endless means, shifting means operable to move a portion of the endless means laterally into engagement with a box at said location, and from a retracted position in which said portion does not engage the box, and control means positioned to be actuated by a box, and in turn to actuate said shifting means to move said endless means laterally against the box, in response to the movement of the box into position about a group of said units at said location.

12. Box handling apparatus comprising a support for supporting at a predetermined location a plurality of units to be boxed and about which a box may be placed, endless ilexible means mounted for endless movement and positioned at opposite sides of said location and operable to engage opposite sides of the box and advance it along said support, means driving said endless means, shifting means operable to move portions of the endless means at each of said sides of the box laterally into engagement with a box at said location and from retracted positions in which said portions do not engage the box, and control means positioned to be actuated by a box, and in turn to actuate said shifting means to move said endless means laterally against said opposite sides of the box, in response to movement of the box into position about a group of said units at said location.

13. Box handling apparatus as recited in claim 12, in

' tatably carrying said pulleys mounted for swinging movement toward and away from said location, and power energized means operable to actuatesaid carriers to move said portions of the endless means into engagement with the box. 3 3

14.Box'handling apparatus as recited in claim 12, in which said endless means comprise a pair of endless flexible belts mounted for endless movement at opposite sides of said location.

7 References Citedin 8 3 a the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Johnson 'Aug." 22 1916" Kimball -JJan. 29,1924 Gwinn June 30, 1925 Jeffrey et a1 Oct.- 3, 1933 Webster June 9,1953 Laub Feb. 14, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 

